Now You Can Have Your Cake and Eat It Too, Thanks to These Quick Dessert Recipes

Raise your hand if dessert is your favorite meal. Same. Now raise your hand if the place we'd find you at a party is the dessert table, not the dance floor. Also same. But even if downing a table full of sweets isn't up your alley, we all get a craving for something sugary every now and then. And you know what's so much better than settling for a drugstore candy bar? Homemade baked goods.

As such, it's always a good idea to have some delicious and quick dessert recipes on hand. We took it upon ourselves to scour the internet for the best quick dessert recipes to make when you need to satisfy your sweet tooth in a snap. These recipes are also great for when you need to whip something up for a dinner party or potluck. We even included some options for people who crave healthier sweets (don't worry—there are extremely decadent options as well). In any case, these easy recipes all take an hour and a half or less, so go on and enjoy the sweet (and more importantly, instant) gratification.

Chocolate Pancake Cake

Salt and Wind

Don't have time to bake a cake but still want one? Try this recipe from Salt and Wind so that you can have your cake and eat it too. It's basically a pile of decadent chocolate pancakes sandwiching gooey frosting. Our dream come true would be waking up to these for birthday breakfast in bed.

Total Time: 90 minutes

Cinnamon Cayenne Citrus Salad With Cacao

Salt and Wind

This flavor-packed, super-light and refreshing dessert recipe is sure to become a summer staple. Ruby-red grapefruit is doused with cayenne-pepper–infused maple syrup, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and cacao nibs in this dish. It's the perfect balance between sweet and bitter tastes. Honestly, this is healthy enough to eat for breakfast and flavorful enough to hit the spot for dessert.

Total Time: Five minutes

Vegan and Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake

Minimalist Baker

The only thing better than a quick dessert is one with easy cleanup. Enter this one-bowl vanilla cake recipe from Minimalist Baker. And while it's both vegan-friendly and gluten-free, it tastes just as decadent as traditional vanilla cake. We're predicting this will be your next go-to birthday-cake recipe.

Total Time: 70 minutes

Salted Chocolate Oatmeal Shortbread

Salt and Wind

Dairy-free and vegan-friendly, this recipe from Salt and Wind yields delicious oatmeal shortbread triangles with salted chocolate frosting. The cookies are super buttery, sweet, and salty (though they're actually made with coconut oil)—the perfect combination of flavors for a quick-and-easy dessert.

Total Time: 80 minutes

Chocolate Chip Cookie Parfaits

Half Baked Harvest

Calling all cookie monsters: This Half Baked Harvest is about to make your (impatient) dessert dreams come true. Parfaits on their own are fun because you get to discover new layers of delicious flavors with each bite, but this recipe takes it to another level. It calls for cookie chunks instead of granola and peanut-butter mousse and chocolate fudge instead of yogurt.

Total Time: 30 minutes

Pistachio Cookies With Rose Frosting

Wu Haus

Have you ever seen a prettier cookie? Aside from being highly photogenic, these thumbprint pistachio cookies from Wu Haus are topped with a rose-flavored cashew cream, which makes for a nice balance between sweet and nutty flavors. However, if you choose to make the frosting, we suggest making it ahead of time since it needs to chill overnight. Vegans and non-vegans will both devour these, so many sure you make enough for seconds.

Totale Time: 40 minutes (cookies only)

Superfood Chocolate Medallions

Salt and Wind

These superfood chocolate medallions from Salt and Wind are not only easy and quick to make, but they're also much healthier than most dessert options. Made with dark chocolate, chia seeds, almonds, coconut flakes, agave nectar, and raw cacao nibs, they're the perfect sweet snack to power you through an afternoon slump.

Totale Time: 40 minutes

Healthy(ish) Banana Splits

Minimalist Baker

For someone who really doesn't want to spend any time in the kitchen, this quick dessert recipe is for you. Thanks to Minimalist Baker, all you need to do is stuff a banana with some yummy toppings and call it a day. This recipe is a vegan-friendly, healthy version of a classic banana split. (But still, feel free to go ahead and add as many toppings are calling your name.)

Total Time: Five minutes

Apple Pie in a Cake

Melanie Makes

Can't decide between eating pie or cake? Why choose why you can have both? Try this recipe for an apple pie inside of a cake from Melanie Makes.

Total Time: 70 minutes

Coconut Matcha Macaroon Bites

Wu Haus

Here's another incredible dessert recipe for when you're looking for a healthier alternative. These coconut macaroon matcha bites from Wu Haus are healthy enough to snack on as a midday pick-me-up or even as an energizing breakfast. Since they're raw, these matcha bites will be ready to devour in just a few minutes.

Totale Time: 10 Minutes

Chocolate Sheet Cake

Half Baked Harvest

No dessert roundup is complete without a classic chocolate cake recipe. For the grand finale, we bring you this mouthwatering milk chocolate sheet cake from Half Baked Harvest. And the good news doesn't stop there: This recipe only requires one bowl, so cleanup will require minimal effort.

Total Time: 40 minutes

Consider your sweet tooth satisfied with these dessert recipes you can make in a pinch.